Improvement in trusses



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Truss;

ted Nov. 6, 1877.

fie Mania?" WASHINGTON C aie N. PETERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. WESTINGHOUSE.

Truss.

No. 196,959. Patented Nov. 6, I877.

nJETms. PHOTO LITHOGRAPH .UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

LEVI WESTINGHOUSE,- OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,959, dated November 6, 1877; application filed May 26, 1877.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI WESTINGHOUSE, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a view of my improved truss put together so as to make a double truss. Fig. 2 shows its application. of my improved truss adjusted for a single truss, and Fig. 4 shows its application.

' Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to trusses for the cure and alleviation'of rupture and hernia and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts in such a manner that by a slight modification thetruss may be used either as a single or double truss, with the least possible inconvenience to the wearer, making, at the same time, a strong and durable truss, the pads of which may readily be adjusted to suit different cases and conditions.

In the drawing, A A are the pads, each of which consists, preferably, of a copper plate, serving as a base for a curled-hair packing covered with buckskin. Pads of hard rubber, wood, or any other suitable material may, however, be used, if preferred. To the back of each padare firmly secured five buckles, a b e d e, by means of which the pads may be adjusted, in the manner hereinafter described.

B B is the waistband, which consists of two separate pieces, each of which, again, consists of two tapering webs or straps, f g f g, united at their broad ends to a pad, h h, so as to form an obtuse angle. The strap f of each piece passes down in front, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and is secured to the pad by the buckle d. The other strap, g, is the perineal strap, which is passed between the limbs of the wearer and buckled at c, for the purpose of keeping the straps and pads in the correct position. i k are straps, secured by the buckles Fig. 3 is a viewet 12 of each strap, for the purpose of uniting these when the truss is used as a double truss. When so used the pads h h are buckled together in the back by a strap, Z, and shoulderstraps or suspenders D D are used to keep the truss firmly in position. E E are adjustable hip-pads, to prevent chafing when the truss is to be worn tight.

When used as a single truss the straps a, k, and l are removed, and a bifurcated strap, F, (bifurcated according to whether it is to be used as a right or left truss,) is buckled to the pad h or h. The other end of this strap is buckled to either a. b, b c, or a 0, according to the exact position in which it is desired to have the pad. I

The straps and parts of my improved truss are cut in such a shape that they will, whether the truss is used double or single, set close around the hips and thighs, and lie flat against the body of the wearer. They are, preferably, made of leather lined with buckskin, but may be made of elastic webs or.other material, if desired.

By the arrangement of the buckles and Y and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- As an improvement in trusses, the forked bands B B", consisting each of a tapering hip- LEVI WESTINGHOUSE.

Witnesses BENJAMIN F. WILLIAMSON, WILLIAY HOLLIDAY. 

